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nglish or Chinese PheasantSy 
Rearing Them in Missouri. 



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SOME SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE WHO HAVE 
SECURED BIRDS FOR SCIENTIFIC AND PRO- 
PAGATING PURPOSES. FROM THE MISSOURI 
STATE GAME FARM AT JEFFERSON CITY, MO. 




JESSE A. , TOLERTON, 
State Game and Fish Commissioner. 

JEFFERSON, CITY. MO. 



TMI HUGH STtPHENS PHTO. 00., JEFFERSON 0»TV. 






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REARING ENGLISH OR CHINESE PHEASANTS 

IN MISSOURI. 



Buying, shipping, keeping, propagating and preserving game, be- 
ing included in the dutie^s required of the Missouri State Game and 
Fish Department. I have undertaken to secure, within reasonable 
bounds, the necessary game birds required in the undertaking, and to 
take such other steps to carry out the law, as woidd indicate that I 
have seriously accepted the obligations and duties intrusted to me. In 
behalf of my fellow citizens of the State, I hope to secure all the bene- 
fits of a modern game and fish law, and equal in effectiveness to those 
found beneficial in other states with advance game and fish legislation. 

In assuming this task, I realize that I must not proceed rashly, 
though adopting a sufficiently large plan of action, to really accomp- 
lish tangible results. I ask the public co-operation in my endeavors, 
and will give my best energies to solving a difficult problem. I may 
not adopt plans to exactly suit some enthusiasts, and they may know 
of other ways to accomplish the benefits desired, but I will have to se- 
cure information from various sources, and after careful consideration, 
acquire definite knowledge from actual experience as the conditions 
i:)resent themselves. I had at first thought it advisable, for the present, 
at least, to avoid going into the actmd breeding of game birds on an 
extensive scale, but rather to buy and distribute game birds, in small 
quantities, to especially intrusted and well recommended persons, in 
various parts of the State. It occurred to me that I would in this man- 
ner get a quantity of useful information and at the same time ''not 
carry all my eggs in one basket" with a possibility of getting them all 
broken, in case of a mishap. I have, however, decided to establish a 
game breeding farm in reality, and, to this end, have been gathering 
about me in tlie service, such expert assistants as would justify me in 
establishing the game farm. I believe I can, in this manner, for a smal- 
ler expense per bird, be in a better position to carry out my original 
idea on a much more extensive scale. I have already purchased a 
large quantity of English and Chinese pheassmts, and Hungarian part- 
ridges. Having promised to deliver a quantity of these choice birds 
to various interested persons, I have already exhausted my original 
supply collected for the purpose, according to my previous aggree- 
ments. It will be therefore necessary, as the breeding season is already 

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lute, luid the su[)ply lH'in<; limited, for me to reserve all future 
birds now possible to Ix' obtained, for the State Game Farm. The 
State ^vill have prcHluced a oenerous supply by this fall for distribu- 
tion to individuals and for liU^ration in the most suitable places. It 
is intended to reserve a considerable number of birds for each part 
of Missouri in the fall distribution. "With this explanation, it is hoped 
that this pamphlet Avill be accepted, instead of a personal reply to the 
generous tiood of letters now being received at this department, from 
all parts of the State. This correspondence is most gratifying to me 
as an indication that my fellow citizens believe I am trying to do the 
best I can to carry out their wishes. 

Yours very truly, 

JESSE A. TOLERTOX, 
State Game and Fish Commissioner. 



CAKE OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE PHEASANTS. 

The supply of pheasants and partridges which can be obtained is 
verA' limited. In sending birds to private individuals, for breeding 
purposes, they will appreciate the need of taking most exacting pains 
in studying the conditions which will produce the largest increase. 
The first thing to remember is, that wild creatures in confinement 
must have the conditions in captivity as nearly as possible to those 
found in the wild state. The prime importance, above all others, is 
cleanliness, in the minutest detail, suitable food, fresh water, and am- 
ple range, is the next consideration. As the pheasants will lay from 
40 to 100 eggs in a season, domestic hens, preferal>ly cochin bantams, 
Plymouth Ivocks, Silver or Golden Wyandottes, should be selected to 
hatch them. The hens should not have large feet, neither should those 
having scales or sores on their feet or body be used. Hens with foul 
smelling breath should be avoided as a plague. Neat, clean, healthy 
hens shoidd be secured, and these should be treated with insect powder, 
especially under the wings and the root of the tail. Sickness and 
vermin should not be transmitted to the newly born pheasants upon 
their arrival in this world. There does not seem to be any considerable 
trouble about the care of the old pheasants in their laying of eggs or 
their hatching; the main difficulty comes with raising the young chicks. 
This trouble is largely caused from ac([uiring disease from other ])oul- 
try and from improper food. Nearly all birds, like human beings, 
require ditlerent footl for their young, in that food used for adults 
cannot be assimilated by the young. 

The pheasants in captivity, will drop their o(i:<fi:^ anywhere on the 
ground, and they will eat them unless gathered [)romptly. The eggs 
should be carefully put aside, packed over in bran. Oats draw the 
moisture from the eggs, and should not Ix^ used. These ea-<rs should bo 



gently turned over every three days, and can be kept three weeks. 
Fresh eggs hatch best. About eighteen or twenty eggs, according to 
the size of the hen, can be used in a "setting." In a big hatchery farm, 
the hens are first allowed to set on glass eggs for three days to get 
used to the nest and the handling. The nest should be a ventilated box, 
with a lid to it, but no bottom. Inside the box there should be about 
four inches of drj^ sod, stamped solid, but having a hollow for the nest 
in the center. This keeps the nest higher and dryer than the surround- 
ing ground. A small quantitj^ of hay or straw can be used to line the 
nest. The hen cannot get off the nest, unless taken out by opening the 
lid, and allowed to run about in a wire screened inclosure in front of 
the nest. This should be about three feet square, with about half of 
the screened enclosure covered by a roof for a shelter. The hen is fed 
boiled corn, or other grains with plenty of gravel, once a day, and 
given pure clean water. In about fifteen minutes she should be put 
back on the nest and closed in. In about twenty-three days the eggs 
will hatch. The young chicks should be kept in a basket or box lined 
with cloth, and not to be immediately carried out into the cold or in 
drafts of air. The nesting boxes should be comfortably located for 
the setting hen, as well as for the young birds. The inclosed wire run 
should be further guarded by an outside wire fence, with traps set 
about it to catch house cats, coons, possums, weasels, mink, skunk, or 
other animals which will come to get the young chicks. A tall pole 
should be set in the ground where it is convenient for hawks to light 
on it. On top should be a spring trap for the hawks to light upon 
luid get caught. Hawks are very bothersome. 

The chicks require no food during the first 24: hours, but 
later must be fed u})on hard boiled eggs, mixed with Spratts 
Pheasant meal, worked up with barley meal and screened through 
a sieve. They should be fed every four hours; at six o'clock, ten, 
two and six for the first three weeks, afterwards three times 
daily is sufficient. At six or seven Aveeks old, twice a day will 
do. After the third day, the rearing coop and its screened in- 
closure about it, should be moved to new ground, every day until the 
birds are well developed. Even the old birds cannot long remain upon 
the same gi-ound. Sickness in pheasants is generally caused by filth, 
improper food and poor housing. They are a cleanly bird when wild. 
Young chicks will eat and relish egg and milk custard mixed in their 
food. Lettuce and cabbage leaves are also desirable feed. Chopped 
young onions will also improve their food mixtures. A small quantity 
of grain can advantageously be left about the coop to permit the birds 
to graduall}^ adopt more of a grain diet. The mother hen should con- 
stantly be kept free from lice by using insect powder. After 14 to 
17 days have elapsed, the pheasant raiser can constantly keep adding 
to the feed, boiled rice, barley meal, corn meal, flax meal, dairi seed, 
wheat, hemp seed, increasing the diet up to cracked corn. At this 
time, the birds should be fed on coarser feed, the breeder should then 
Avatch for diseases, such as gaps, roop and scowes. When eight or ten 
Aveeks old they will leaA'e the mother and look for roosting quarters. 
They frequent the open fields during the day and retreat toward the 



\voo(l> in tlie evening, roi>sting in a pine or oak trci; at night. In their 
wihl state, they can stand the most rigorous weather. They are a game 
bird, i)ar excellence, and it is qnestionable Avhether any other l>ird 
excels it in game or fo<xl qualities, certainly not in Ix^auty. 

It is rank foolishness to hunt them without a dog, as they can 
conceal themselves in the scantest cover. AVhen running in cover, they 
run rapidly like California quail aiUl can pass through short or tall 
grass without hardly moving the top of it. They lie well to the dog 
and are swift and strong on the wing. They do not succun)h to slight 
gunshot w'ounds, and when wounded will tax the skill of the best re- 
triever. 

In Oregon, where originally only 50 pair W(U'e liberated in 
1882, they are most abundant. It is said that 30,000 w^ere killed in 
a single county alone. They were protected for seven years, and there- 
after the open season was six weeks, reduced later to thirty days on 
jnale birds only. They are great egg producers, and often raise two or 
even tliree broods in their wild state. When the season is open they are 
a most waiy fowl. Wlien the season has closed they will venture into 
barnj'ards and eat with the domestic fowl, though always very suspic- 
ious and watchful. Anyone who can raise turkeys, should bo able to 
raise English or Chinese pheasants. The birds soon learn to know 
their keeper, and should not be bothered by visitors, who cause them 
great excitement in the attempt to lly against the screens. 

The pheasant pens cannot be too large. A cock and two or three 
hens should have a pen not less than 10 by 12 feet. One cock and a 
hen are said to pr<Kluce most fertile eggs, though nearly all pheasant 
eggs are fertile. 

WRITE FOR INFORMATION. 

I^'tters written to this department, inquiring about the care of 
English or Chinese pheasants will receive a jn-ompt reply, and no one 
should wait imtil the last minute if any pheasant sickness or other 
trouble arises, as this department greatly desires that private pheas- 
antries in Missouri shall be successful aids in helping the State Game 
and Fish Department to stock the State. 

ABOUT IIUXGARIAX PARTRIDGES. 

Hungarian partridges sliould be liberated as soon as received, as 
they cannot be raised in confinement. They must be allowed to repro- 
duce in nature's own way. and they will not even mate in captivity. 

A SAMPLE LETTER. 

It would afford me much i)leasure to reproduce some of the letters 
received at this oflice. Many of the corre.spondent^s show unmistakably 
the deep interest which is manitWed in the subject of State propaga- 
tion of game birds. Tlie following communication will convey an idea 
of the gi'iioral trend of thonght on this interesting and beneficial >nl)- 
ject : 



Sedalia, Mo., March 1st, 1910. 

Mr. Jesse Tolerton, State Game & Fish Commissioner, Jefferson City, 
Mi&souri : 

I am very glad indeed to note that the State of Missouri has 
in you a Game .AVarden that realizes the importance of the propaga- 
tion, as well as the protection of our game birds, fish and animals. You 
are making a wise move in arranging for the propagation and distri- 
bution of Chinese Ring Necked Pheasants and English Pheasants. 
sAnd, by the way, there is no difference between the two birds. The 
ancestors of the English pheasants Mere imported from China to Eng- 
land some three hundred years ago. For the i)ast three or four years, 
I have been reading up on tlie propagtion of the Chinase and English 
pheasants, and I find that the climate is well adapted for either. They 
are not only a handsome bird, but also a splendid table bird and very 
desti'uctive to noxious insects and vermin, and therefore are great 
friends of the fanner. A year ago this month I purchased some Chin- 
ese Ring Necks of the Kendrick Pheasantry of Denver. I secured 
some five or six dozen eggs and hatched out some thirty or forty chicks, 
but I made a mistake in using game hens to hatch the birds, and be- 
fore I got onto it, the hens killed the birds soon after hatching. 
I then switched to tlie common barnyard hens with more success. I, 
however, found that I did not have room enough in town, so sent them 
out to the farm and built a wire pheasantry, covering about three- 
fourths of an acre, and succeeded in raising some birds. The fanners 
in the neighborhood are deeply interested in these birds, and the own- 
ei"s of about 2,000 acres of land have agreed to protect these birds 
against hunters, and supply feed for them during the winter. I am 
deeply interested in this move, and I am going to ask you to send me 
as many paii"s of Chinese Ring Necks as you can conscientiously spare, 
for the purpose of putting them out in the pheasantry, hatching the 
eggs under barnyard fowls and liberating the chicks on the 2,000 acres 
referred to. I believe that I can make a showing this fall that your 
office will l^e proud of, so kindly let me have as many as one-half dozen 
pair if possible. 

I am having Mr. Bothwell, whom of course you know, to indorse 
me in this request. 

Very truly yours, 

(Signed) J. T. MONTGOMERY. 



IMPORTED P>IRDS ARE PROTECTED. 

It is proper to state in this pamphlet, that the State laws of Mis- 
souri protect these birds, with which the Game and Fish Department 
is attempting to stock the State, and that I will esteem it as a personal 
favor, as well as being an act of public benefit, if county officers, and 
private individuals also, will acquaint me with all facts connected with 



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the violation of tlio laws. ('s}iecially relatiiiir to th« q 002 909 305 4 " 
injuring, or atU'.nipUxl killing or injury of these, birds wlncli require 
such especial care and protection at this time, when there is no legal 
season for killing or capturing them. 



THE LAW UPON THE SUBJECT. 

Sex?. 10. Game birds not to be killed. — Any person, who shall 
take, capture, or kill, except under permit, any woodcock, pinnated 
grouse (prairie chicken) ruffed grouse (pheasant), Mongolian, Chin- 
ese or English pheasant, or other resident or migratory or imported 
game bird, except as provided in section 9, shall be punished by a fine 
of not less than $25.00 nor more than $50.00 for each offense, and ad- 
ditional fine of $5.00 for each bird captured, killed or possessed. 

Sec. 17. Not to have in jwssession — penalty. — Any person who 
shall have in his possession or under his control any variety of fish, 
game or birds during the close season prescribed by laAv therefor or 
any carcass or flesh thereof, except for scientific or propagating pur- 
poses, shall be punished bv a fine not less than $50.00, nor more than 
$100.00. 

Under section 51 of the State game and fish laws, no shipment of 
these birds is permitted except under permit, and with shipping tags 
showing such permit has been authorized by this office. 

Veiy respectfully, etc., 

JESSE A. TOLEKTON, 

State Game and Fish (Commissioner. 
Jefferson City, Mo. 



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